Elastic tension device.



J. C. HODGES.

ELASTIC TENSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED we. 11, 1911.

1,020,553. Patented Mar.19, 1912.

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citizen of the United States, residing at At- UNITED sTA' ns rAfrEN'r OFFICE.-

JAMES- C. HODGES, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'I O SIDNEY O.

ELASTIC TENSION DEVICE.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lVIal'. 19, 191 2. I Application filed August 11,

1911. Serial No. 643,490.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. Honors, :1

tlcboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic Tension Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device intended for introduction into the straps of suspenders, garters, or other supporting means-as a siilbstitute for elastic webbing.

The principal objects of myinvention are to increase the elastic action and facilitate the movement of the parts; to prevent buo kling or cramping of the spring; to prevent any noise or abrasion by reason of the movement of the spring; and to reduce the cost of construction to a minimum.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such novel parts and combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2, are front elevations of my attachment embodied, respectively, in the strap of a suspender and in the strap of a garter, Fig. 3, a front elevation of the spring carrying member before the spring has been applied thereto, Fig. 4, a like elevation of the same after the spring has been applied thereto and the binding plate mounted" thereon, Fig. 5, a detail view of a sleeve, Fig. 6, a section on line e w of Fig. 1, Fig. 7. a central vertical section of my attachment in contracted position, and Fig. 8, a front elevation of the same in extended position, showing a portion of the casing broken away.

Like reference characters indicate like parts llll'OllgllOllt the views.

In the drawings 1 represents the lower end of a shoulder strap, 2- the slotted plate, 3 the supportinglstrap, and 1- the engaging member of a pair'of suspenders with which my device isemplOyed, as shown in Fig; 1. In Fig. 2 the, corresponding parts 5, 6, 7, and S, of agait er are shown.

My deviceis thus constructed: A length of wire, preferably half round in transverse section is bent to form a horizontally-disposed oblong loop 10 with the remainder of the wire length consisting of two straight rods 11 contacting along their fiat faces throughout their length to form a sin le cylindrical post depending midway t e length of the loop 10. Slidable on the post 11 adjacent the loop is a plate 12 having a central opening 13 to loosely admit the post. '60

This plate has downwardly extending par allel sides 14 with prongs 15 upon their lower margins. A tube of zinc or other suitable material is cut into short lengths or sleeves 17 and the series post 11. These sleeves are of sufficient internal diameter to move loosely on the post. Then a spiral spring 19 having a diameter suilicient to engage the exterior faces of the tubes 17 is placed over the tubes and the post in compressed position. When the spring is released its convolutions separate the tubes 17 upon the-post at-intervals throughoutthe length of the expanded placed upon the spring. The lower portions of the wire con- 5 stituting the post 11 are outwardly bent in opposite directions forniin horizontal arms 20 in the vertical plane oft 1e looplO. These arms 20 have their ends 21 upwardly curved as at 22. Thearms 20 serve as a support for, so

the lower end of the spring 19 an in com junction with the ca mg prevent rotation of the post- The spring and post is'inclosed in a casing 24 of textile material, preferably nonelastic webbing. The casing is formed by a strip of material having a looped lower end portion passing through a slotted plate 2. The upper ends of the casing material rest. against the inner faces of the walls 14 of the cap or plate 12 and are engagedby the in'turned teeth 15. These parts may be,

.further engaged by rivets or wire 26. or.

other fastening means. The side margins of,

the casing as at 28 may be sewed together 1 throughout their length.

7 It will be understood that the particular construction of the casing is immaterial so long as the operative parts arEacoemnio- Neither is the particular dated therein. method of connection of the engaging mem her 4 with the casing 24 material.

Itwill be noted that upward tension of" the strap iLconncctcd with the loop 10 compresses the spring 15) by pressing the latter against the plate or cap 12 constituting the top of the casing. The spring thus compressed is shown in Fig. When the tension is relieved by a descent of thestrap l the spring resumes its normal expanded po-- 11o,

'ing of the spring.

upon one end of the post, a spiral the upper end sit-ion shown in Fig. 7. During the compression-and expansion of the spring the sleeves 17 serve to maintain the coils of the spring uncramped in vertical alinement whereby the spring is to abrade the inclosed post, .nor to produce noise resultant upon a cramping or scrap- The sleeves move freely and noiselessly on the post, and being interspaced allow ample longitudinal movement of the spring while firmly supporting the latter.

What I claim is 1. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member spring upon the post, means upon the other end of the post for supporting the spring, tubular members slidably mounted upon the post Wholly Within the spring, and a casing slid-- ably mounted upon the post and engaging the upper end of the spring to compress the same.

2. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a post, a spiral spring upon the post, means upon the post for supporting the spring, tubular members slidably mounted upon the post within the spring, and a caslng slidably mounted upon the post and engaging the upper end of the spring to compress the same.

3- A tension device of the type set forth, comprising 'a post, an engaging member upon the upper end of the post, a spiral spring upon the post below the engaging member, interspaced tubular members slidably mounted upon the post within the spring, and a casing slidably mounted upon the post and engaging the upper end of the spring to compress the same.

4. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon one end of the post, means upon the other end of the post for supporting the spring, a spiral spring upon the post, tubular members slidably mounted upon the post and engaging the spring, and a casing slid; ably mounted upon the post and engaging of the spring to compress the same.

5. A. tension device of thetype set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon the upper end of the post, a spiral spring upon the post, means upon the post for supporting the spring, interspaeed me tallic tubular nienibersloosely mounted upon the post and engaging intermediate portions ofthe spring, and a casing slidably mounted upon the post and engaging the upper end of the spring to eon'ipress the same.

6. A tension (levied of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon one end of the post, arms upon \the other end of the post, a spiral. spring sur rounding the post and seated upon the arms,

not set nor permitted tubular members slidably mounted upon the post, and a casing slidably mounted upon the post and engaging the spring to compress the same.

7. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon one end of the post, arms upon the other end of the post, a spiral spring surrounding the post and seated upon the arms, slidable means for maintaining the spring out of contact with the post located upon the post Within the spring and in contact With upon the post and engaging the spring to compress the same.

8. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon the upper portion of the post, oppo sitel -disposed arms upon the lower portion of the post provided with inwardly-curved ends, a spring upon'the post seated upon the arms, slidable members upon the post within the spring, a casing comprising a housing portion inclosing the spring and arms, and a bearing portion resting upon the end of the spring and provided with an opening to loosely receive the post.

J. A tension device'of the type set forth, comprising a post, an engaging member upon the one end of the post, oppositely-disposed arms upon the other end of the post provided with curved ends, a spiral spring upon the post and contacting with the spring, a casing comprising housing p0rtion inclosing the arms, and a bearing por tion abutting against the end of the spring and slidably mounted upon the post.

-10. A tension device of the type set forth, comprising a horizontally-disposed loop, a post, and diverging arms formed from a single piece of bendable material, a spiral spring surrounding the post intermediate the loop and arms, slidable'inembers upon the post engaging the spring, and a casing inclosing the post and arms and engaging the end of the spring adjacent the loop said casing being provided with an opening to receive the post. I

11. A connection between two strap members comprising a metallic body portion, a spiral spring loosely coiled around said body portion, a plurality of members within the coil. of said spring strung upon said body portion at intervals apart from each other and slidable thereon, a slidable member seated upon said spring and adapted to slide on said body portion thereby contract-- ing the spring when the slid-able member moves toward one end of said. body portion, the other end of said body portion being connected with one of said strap members, said slidable member being connected with the other of said s rap members.

upon the post, slidable members mounted 12. A connection between two strap memthe spring, and a casing slidably mounted bers comprising a metallic body portion, a ing the spring when the slidable member spiral spring loosely coiled around said moves toward one end of, said body portion. 10 body portion, a plurality of members within In testimony whereof I have aflixed my the 0011 of said spring strung upon said body signature in presence of two witnesses.

portion at intervals apart from each other JAMES C. HODGES. and slidable thereon, a slidable member Witnesses: seated upon said. spring and adapted to EoI'rH C. PIKE,

slide on said body, portion thereby contract- HAROLD O. BEGNEY. 

